Produce by Wendy Crockett and JC Byers
Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights.
First Series.
Edited by E. Dixon
Note.
The text of the present selection from the Arabian Nights is thatof Galland, 1821, slightly abridged and edited. The edition isdesigned virginibus puerisque.
E. DIXON.
Cambridge,
Xmas, 1893.
The King of Persia and the Princess of the Sea
Prince Beder and the Princess Giauhara (A Sequel to the Foregoing)
The Three Princes and Princess Nouronnihar
Prince Ahmed and the Fairy (A Sequel to the Foregoing)
Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess of China
The Loss of the Talisman (A Sequel to the Foregoing)
The Story of Zobeide
The Story of the King's Son
The First Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
The Second Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
The Third Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
The Fourth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
The Fifth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
The Sixth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor
There once was a king of Persia, who at the beginning of his reignhad distinguished himself by many glorious and successfulconquests, and had afterwards enjoyed such profound peace andtranquillity as rendered him the happiest of monarchs. His onlyoccasion for regret was that he had no heir to succeed him in thekingdom after his death. One day, according to the custom of hisroyal predecessors during their residence in the capital, he heldan assembly of his courtiers, at which all the ambassadors andstrangers of renown at his court were present. Among these thereappeared a merchant from a far-distant country, who sent a messageto the king craving an audience, as he wished to speak to him abouta very important matter. The king gave orders for the merchant tobe instantly admitted; and when the assembly was over, and all therest of the company had retired, the king inquired what was thebusiness which had brought him to the palace.
'Sire,' replied the merchant, 'I have with me, and beg your majestyto behold, the most beautiful and charming slave it would bepossible to find if you searched every corner of the earth; if youwill but see her, you will surely wish to make her your wife.'
The fair slave was, by the king's commands, immediately brought in,and no sooner had the king beheld a lady whose beauty and gracesurpassed anything he had ever imagined, than he fell passionatelyin love with her, and determined to marry her at once. This wasdone.
So the king caused the fair slave to be lodged in the next finestapartment to his own, and gave particular orders to the matrons andthe women-slaves appointed to attend her, that they should dressher in the richest robe they could find, and carry her the finestpearl necklaces, the brightest diamonds, and other the richestprecious stones, that she might choose those she liked best.
The King of Persia's capital was situated in an island; and hispalace, which was very magnificent, was built upon the sea-shore;his window looked towards the sea; and the fair slave's, which waspretty near it, had also the same prospect, and it was the morepleasant on account of the sea's beating almost against the foot ofthe wall.
At the end of three days the fair slav